May 1 - Eagle Creek

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We are backpacking gourmands, as you may have already guessed.  This day's breakfast was pancakes with hot real maple syrup, made from reconstituted maple sugar.  Pancakes are a temperamental meal to prepare under the best of cooking conditions, and these were definitely not optimal.  Our MSR white gas stove (thank you again, Kevin and Darci) works astonishingly well, but with only a thin layer of stainless steel over it, it is problematic to cook pancakes without burning.  Jody was fully up to this task, holding the pan about 2 inches from the flame, and we dined like kings.  The photo below is especially for Carl, Jody's dad, who will fully appreciate the delicacy of this operation, and the resulting relish with which we ate the results.

We reluctantly left our cozy little camp, and departed for our next destination, Eagle Creek, about 6.2 miles away, most of it level walking.  The threatening rain had not yet materialized, but we could feel it in the air, and walked with our pack covers on and our ponchos at hand.  

The rain did come as we walked, gently.  We covered up and continued on.  The day was cool enough that the added plastic barrier did not significantly heat us up, nor wet us from the inside as it typical when working hard underneath non-breathing materials.  We saw not a soul the entire day.

On this leg of our walk we had over 16 wet creek crossings, every few hundred yards.  We opted this time to keep our shoes on and just walk through the creeks, soaking our shoes and socks.  This had the benefit of protecting and supporting our feet, but the disadvantage of making our shoes and feet gooey messes.

As we neared Eagle Creek, the rain had stopped temporarily.  One of our last fords was over an enormous footlog spanning the entire crossing.  Below the three of us made use of the timed exposure feature of the camera to capture this image.  You very nearly were treated to only a picture of my backside as I scurried over the ladies; I had turned around and smiled just as the picture was taken.

Eagle Creek was a bit disappointing.  It was not nearly as lush as Sugar Fork, but at least it was empty.  We found a quiet and somewhat sheltered back corner of the camp.  The skies were really dark now, and the air heavy, so we hurried to set up camp before it hit hard.  As much of our clothing and gear were now wet, we hung a clothes line over the sputtering fire to get things as dry as possible prior to the next days walk.

Our camp backed up to this small lovely brook, which sang to us the entire time we were there.

That night's repast was scalloped potatoes (re-hydrated), fresh green beans with onion and balsamic vinegar, and another half cup of wine -- another feast.

May 2 - Lost Cove and the AT